BAFTA and Olivier Award-winner writer/director John Godber is one of the grand old men of British theatre. For decades he’s pioneered the type of populist yet meaningful comedy-drama which genuinely attracts a working class audience on tour across the UK and, for years, at his former base Hull Truck. So it’s always exciting to hear he has a new play.
London audiences can see his latest piece when his own company present the world première of THIS IS NOT RIGHT written and directed by the great man, at Wilton’s Music Hall (1 October – 5 October)
We’re told -
“This is not Right is the unfiltered story of Holly Parker, a talented girl from a Council estate in Hull, and her single parent Dad. After exam success leads to her being bullied, Holly’s anxiety grows when her Dad becomes obsessed with the Madeleine McCann case and keeping her safe. Holly moves on, from local college to University College London. Three years of freedom, music and mac ’n’ cheese. But a degree isn't worth what it was, and soon she is back on the estate she was desperate to leave, back with the spice zombies and the vandals next door, struggling with an over-protective parent to make things work, with no money, no job, and a whole load of debt.
Then after one night at the Welly Club, another student goes missing… Now her Dad is losing control and Holly is scared”.
This production follows the recent run of Scary Bikers at Trafalgar Studios and Godber directs Frazer Hammill (Dad) and Martha Godber (Holly Parker) in the production.
This is not Right, is told in the signature style of his seminal worldwide hit BOUNCERS in which a small cast play lots of different roles.
The press release reminds us of Godber’s significant contribution to Theatre. His credits as a playwright include SCARY BIKERS, BOUNCERS, UP ‘N’ UNDER (Olivier Award for Best New Comedy), APRIL IN PARIS, TEECHERS, BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS, CRAMP, HAPPY JACK, SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN, SALT OF THE EARTH, PASSION KILLERS, HAPPY FAMILIES, UP ‘N’ UNDER LL, GYM AND TONIC, DRACULA, LUCKY SODS, HOORAY FOR HOLLYWOOD, WEEKEND BREAKS, IT STARTED WITH A KISS, UNLEASHED, THICK AS A BRICK, BIG TROUBLE IN THE LITTLE BEDROOM, SEASONS IN THE SUN, ON A NIGHT LIKE THIS, OUR HOUSE, DEPARTURES, MEN OF THE WORLD, REUNION, SCREAMING BLUE MURDER, BLACK TIES AND TALES, PERFECT PITCH, GOING DUTCH, CHRISTMAS CRACKERS and CROWN PRINCE. Film writing credits include MY KINGDOM FOR A HORSE (starring Sean Bean).
Cast credits are as follows.
Martha Godber plays Holly Parker. Her previous theatre credits include SEASONS IN THE SUN, I WANT THAT HAIR (East Riding Theatre), POP (Oldham Coliseum), THE MEMORY PROJECT, THE REMARKABLE TALE OF DOROTHY MACKAILL (Hull New Theatre), THREE EMOS (UK tour) and RIGHT (The Old Vic).
Frazer Hammill plays Dad. His previous theatre credits include WUTHERING HEIGHTS, LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER, MACBETH, STUDS, FLINT STREET NATIVITY, TEECHERS (Hull Truck Theatre), BOUNCERS, POLES APART, SCULPTOR’S SURPRISE (Theatre Royal Wakefield) and UP ‘N’ UNDER (Hull New Theatre). For television his credits include HAPPY VALLEY AND THE HEART OF THOMAS HARDY. For film his credits include JUSTICE LEAGUE, ABRAHAM’S POINT and END OF MY TETHER.
Now here’s an absolutely crazy idea for a piece of theatre. It’s brave, brilliant and exactly the kind of thing we love to promote at Londonboxoffice alongside the city’s commercial offerings. But there’s a catch.